Introduction: visit Montevideo
We visited Montevideo in January and stayed 4 nights there. We spent 2 full days visiting the city itself and make a day trip to Punta del Este. In our opinion that was enough, and we wouldn’t spend more than 2 days there.
Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay and its biggest city with approx. 1,5 million inhabitants which is 1/3 of the total population of Uruguay. First Montevideo was a fortress built to stop the Portuguese from advancing toward Buenos Aires.
At that time, there was a Spanish pope and during the separation of the south American colonies, Spain received much more than Portugal. Unhappy with the situation, the Portuguese didn’t listen to the pope and started conquering south American territories that where Spanish. That explain why Brazil is that big and with Montevideo was created.
Table of Contents
Free walking tour
There are free walking tours every day in Montevideo. Monday to Friday at 10am and 3pm, Saturday/Sunday at 3:30pm. The tour is separated in English and Spanish but if one group is too small it might not happen.
Here is the website of the one we followed: https://www.freewalkingtour.com.uy/
We did the FREE WALKING TOUR CIUDAD VIEJA. We met the guys with the red t-shirt and umbrella in Plaza Independencia (Under Artigas monument). Our guide was Rodrigo, he had a really strong accent, it felt like he was singing but he was truly great.
With him and around 10 other people we went to:
- Plaza Independencia: He explained the meaning of the buildings around the square and what they represented such as the biggest hotel that was too expensive for its own good, or the previous presidential palace along with the new one.
- Teatro Solis: We then walked to the theater, we didn’t enter in it and stayed outside while listening to its history and its relationship with the Colon theatre of Buenos Aires. The theatre doesn’t have daily show but if you can get one, there are some of the best and cheapest.
- Templo Inglés: The cathedral of Montevideo. Unfortunately, it was close on Sunday.
- Peatonal Sarandí: a nice walking street with stars on the floor similar to Hollywood.
- Plaza Matriz: the original main square of Montevideo
- Plaza Zabala: where we made a small break and talked about this history of Montevideo.
- Banco República: the main bank of Uruguay, we just walked past by.
- Mercado del Puerto: The tour finished in the Port Market where we entered it and talked a bit more about it before ending the tour.
As it is based on tips, we didn’t really know how much to give, so we left 200 UYU totally.
Feria de Tristan Narvaja
One of the highlights of Montevideo was the flea market held on Sunday from 9am to 4pm. That was just HUGE! The flea market goes from one street to another. We walked around for more than 2h and didn’t used twice the same street.
The market offers almost everything, antiques, books, toys, books, vegetables, grocery, souvenirs… This market is not for tourist and is really made for local people.
In the street where the market took place, we encountered an authentic bookstore called “Babilonia Libros” that is a must to visit for its style and ambiance. Many people stop there only to take a few pictures, but it is really worth entering the shop and looking at some books. Another must to stop for us was “El imperio” a unique and local bar where local band are playing. The bar offers also a rooftop from which you can have a nice scape toward the fleet market.
Rambla’s walk & Parque Rodó
This avenue goes along the coast of Montevideo. It is the longest sidewalk in the world with 22,2km. We didn’t walk that long on it, but we started from the letter of Montevideo until the historical city center. Along the way we made a few stops. At the lighthouse, at the Rodo park, in front of a beach to relax.
City Bus
There is no metro, underground, nor tram in Montevideo but there are lots of buses. One of the best ways to get around is taking them. To know the route, you need to follow you can simply use google map or moovit app on your phone.
To catch a bus, you need to lift you hand otherwise the bus won’t stop. And to get off you need to use the stop button on the bus. When you enter the bus do tell the driver where you are going, and he will sell you a ticket for 55 UYU.
Our itinerary
Day 1:
- Breakfast at the guesthouse (cooked by us)
- Walk to Feria de Tristan Narvaja
- 2h to 3h in Feria de Tristan Narvaja
- Lunch at the guesthouse (cooked by us)
- Free walking tour
- Dinner at the guesthouse (cooked by us)
Day 2
- Breakfast at the guesthouse (cooked by us)
- Montevideo letter
- Walk along the ramblas
- Lighthouse
- Rodo park
- Snack along the way
- Return to guesthouse
- Dinner at the guesthouse (cooked by us)
“What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do — especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon
Where to stay in Montevideo
- Dorms: MedioMundo Hostel
- Mid-Range: Chez Mario et Solange
- Luxurious: Alma Histórica Boutique Hotel
